Truck mounted load lifting apparatus



May 1l, 1965 T. R. MUTTo 3,182,826

TRUCK MOUNTED LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Marh 28, 1962. 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 93 im @viii f/ l/a -imsul'n ne* "Z C. -//7 .ji M 3 l' l Z3 II'I" u e .l I I Il l a I 4 6" l 7 J I ff@ l )7/72 77 lq 'nl /70' 'I IH! /7/ 2 Z4 "Im //f 3 .ji

f/ f/ y? 7i' 7/ l INVENToR. y@ 771af0D0/w5` f?. Marra T. R. MUTTo TRUCK MOUNTED LoAD LIFTING APPARATUS May 11, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Fledmarcnaa, 1962 May 11, 1965 T. R. Mum 3,182,826

Filed Ma'rch 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR. Faiano/v5 f?. Marra HTTIYNEYJ May 11, 1965 T. R. MuTTo TRUCK MOUNTED LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2 8, 1962 May 11, 1965 T. R. MuTTo TRUCK MOUNTD LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l l Ill@ n lf3".

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TRUCK MOUNTED LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent() 3,182,826 TRUCK MOUNTED LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS Theodore R. Motto, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assigner to Nestaway Incorporated, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of hio Filed Mar. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 183,082 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-75) `This invention relates to a load lifting apparatus and particularly to a device adapted for lifting and lowering loads to and 'from an elevated surface. The invention is especially useful on trucks, freight ears, loading docks, and the like wherein levels from or to which loads are transferred are substantially above or below and frequently to one Iside of the level of the supporting surface upon which it is desired to mount the lifting apparatus. Where the invention is used on a truok type vehicle or other mobile carrier, it enables the lifting apparatus to be carried to 4different loading or unloading locations whereby it is available on the carrier at all times.

wAn important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type which is movable in a horizontal direction as Well as a vertical direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vertically movable lifting apparatus which is both swinga'ble in a horizontal arc relative to its mount and pivotable about a vertical axis disposed in thepath of the arc.

Still yanother object lof the invention is to provide an apparatus having Iche above characteristics wherein means is provided for separately braking the swinging and pivoting motions of the apparatus while still allowing vertical movement thereof.

VA further object is to provi-de such lifting apparatus which, when mounted upon the bed of an enclosed carrier, can be parked atwise against a carrier wall in such manner as to take u-p a minimum of storage space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachyable mounting means for the above apparatus whereby it is readily transferable from one 4carrier to another, with only slight niodiiication of the different carriers being necessary to adapt them for mounting the apparatus.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will be understood from the following description `and the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of the load lifting apparatus shown mounted in the bed of `a truck type vehicle;

IIFIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view on a reduced scale yof .the apparatus as shown in FIG. V1;

FIG. 3 is la section taken along the line 2a-43 of FIG. 1;

I3-IG. 4 is a simplified side `elevation on a reduced scale of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 with the vertically movable frame thereof shown in la lowered position;

lFIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus positioned inside the vehicle body;

IlF-IG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing lift forks of the apparatus in folded position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan View on a reduced scale of the apparatus .as shown in FIG. 6; i FIG. 8 is aside elevation in partial section of the vertically lixed and vertically movable frames of the .apparatus and means for unitarily pivoting them;

fFIG. 9 is la side elevation of the mia-in pivot means about which .the parts :shown in IFLIG. 8 are swingable;

AFIG. 10 is .a sect-ion taken along the line C10-110 of FIG. 8; N Y g FIG. 11 is a top .plan view of both pivot members showing, different positions to which the apparatus can be swung around its main pivot;

FIG. 1-2 is a front elevation `of the ylower portion of the vertically movable frame;

ice,

FIG. 13 is `a `section taken along the line 113-4113 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 -is a detail view of a stop mechanism which prevents swinging of the apparatus when in :parked position;

FIG. 15 is :a view similar to FIG. 8 of -a second embodiment of the load lifting apparatus of this invention;

lFIG. 16 :is a top plan view of the upper portion of the embodiment of F IG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a horizontal section taken 'along the line 17-17 of FIG. `15;

FIG. 18 is ya schematic vie-w similar to FIG. 2 showing alternative forms of certain supports of the apparatus applioable to either embodiment; and

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment of the invention.

In general, the Iii'rst embodiment of the load lift-ing apparatus of this invention, as herein illustrated in FIGS. 1-14, comprises a vertically iixed frame having slidably mounted thereon a vertically movable trame which carries a pair of Ifork-s Iat its lower end for engaging a pallet or for otherwise supporting a load. Mount-ing means is provided for the trames which comprises a pair of parallel, 'laterally :spaced pivot members connected to each other by laterally disposed :arms or supports. One of the pivot members serves as a main pivot which is adapted to be yvertically mounted at an elevated surface such as a bed of a truck, yand the other pivot member serves yas an auxiliary pivot swingable in an arc in a horizontal direction about the main pivot member. The vertically ixed frame of the apparatus is mounted to the auxiliary pivot member lwhereby both the iixed and vertically movable frames pivot unitarily labout said `auxiliary pivot member.

The main pivot member is shown as being mounted in a truck bed or the like adjacent the rear edge thereof whereby the two frames are swingable from a position inside the truck body outwardly beyond the rear edge of the bed. Suitable power means is provided for lowering the vertically movable frame to the ground level or to any suitable level below the level of the truck bed for picking up or depositing a load carried by the forks. The vertically movable frame is also movable upwardly a short distance above the truck bed for the purpose of initially enga-ging a load in the truck and lifting it clear of the bed. Separate brake means is provided at each pivot whereby either the swinging or the pivoting motion of the frames or both, may be iixed in any desired position.

The second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 15-17 shows a form of the load lifting apparatus which is adapted primarily for the purpose of moving a load upwardly. This embodiment anticipates conditions where asurface to Abe loaded or unloaded is above the surface upon which it is desirable or convenient to mount the apparatus such as where a loading dock is substantially higher than the truck bed or where the apparatus is mounted at ground level for the purpose of loading upwardly into a truck.

It will be understood that the specific embodiments of the invention as herein illustrated and described are given by way of example only of preferred forms of the invention and are not intended as limitations thereof.

Referring now particularly to FIG. l of the drawings, Aa lifting apparatus is generally indicated at 1 and is mounted in .the bed 2 of a truck body 3. The truck body is of the conventional closed type having side walls 4 and a rearwardly opening door frame 5.

'The mount for the lifting apparatus 1 comprises aV main pivot member 6 (FIG. 9) and an auxiliary pivot member 7 (FIG. 8), said pivot members being connected adjacent'their upper and lower ends by cantilever supports 8 and 9 respectively.

Y212 carry suitable bearings 23 and 24 respectively whereby the sleeve is freely rotatable relative to the pivot shaft 20.

The pivot shaft 26 is mounted `in a vertically upright position in the bed 2 o-f the truck in a sleevelike well 25 having a bottom wall 26 at its lower end and a radiating flange 27 at its upper end. The well 25 is disposed within an aperture 28 in the bed 2 with the lower end of said well projecting below the bed and with the flange 27 resting upon the upper surface of said bed. The flange 27 is welded, bolted, or Votherwise suitably secured to the bed of the truck, and the well is adapted to receive the lower end of the pivot shaft Ztl'. A pin 29 projects diametrically through the well 25 adjacent the bottom -wall 26 thereof, andthe hollow pivot shaft 2@ is provided at its lower end with a pair of diametrically aligned notches Si) which lit downwardly over the pin when the shaft is disposed in the well. The interlocking of the notches and the pin 29 retain the pivot shaft 20 against rotation but in no way inhibits the removal of said shaft from the well.

The auxiliary pivot member 7 similarly comprises an auxiliary pivot shaft 4t! which carries fixedly at the upper end thereof a brake drum 41 and has telescoped thereover an auxiliary pivot sleeve 42. The pivot shaft 40 projects upwardly and downwardly above and below the sleeve 42 and is telescoped through upper and lower pillow blocks 43 and 44 respectively. rThe pillow block 43 is disposed between the brake drum 41 and the upper end of the sleeve 42. Pillow block 44 is disposed adjacent the lower end of the sleeve 42, and a suitable retainer ring 45 is secured to the lowermost end of the shaft tti just below said lower pillow block. The supports 8 and 9 comprise heavy, flat metal barsV uniformly bent and oifset horizontally at an angle intermediate their ends and welded lat said ends tothe main and auxiliarypivot sleeves 22 and 42. A heavy pin 45 is disposed through suitable aligned apertures in the pivot shaft 4@ and the pivot sleeve 42 to prevent relative rotay tion between these two members while the pillow blocks 43 and 44 rotate freely upon the pivot shaft 4@ and carry a vertically fixed guide frame llt which in turn carries a vertically movable lift frame l.

The guide frame le (FIGS. 3 and 8) comprises a pair of parallel, laterally spaced guides Sil having heavy, at base portions 5l and oppositely directed, bladelike tracks 52 projecting laterally from the outer sides thereof. The tracks are disposed at right angles to the base portions 5l and extend throughout the length of the guides 5G. Said guides are connected at their upper ends by a cross member 53 and a U-shaped upper support 54 which projects rearwardly above the auxiliary pivot member 7. An intermediate U-support 55 connects the guides Sti at the level of the upper pillow block 43 and a similarly rearwardly projecting lower U-support 56 connects said guides at the level of the lower pillow block 44.

As shown in FG. 8, the webs of the U-supports 55 Yand 56 are disposed vertically iiatwise a short distance behind the guides 50, andthe pillow blocks 43 and 44 are secured thereto by means of bolts 57 and 55 respectively.'Y TheV guides 56, the cross member 53, and the supports Sli-56 are all welded or otherwise suitably secured together in such manner as to provide a rigid, vertically fixed frame which is pivotable about the pivot shaft Y j .of eachroller 59jis disposed at right angles to its associated track parallel withthe associated base portion 51.

lust below each roller 59 there is provided a Second roller 60 which is mounted adjacent to the forward edge of the associated base portion 51, the axis of said roller 6i? being disposed at right angles to the axis of the roller 59. These rollers are part of the mechanism for guiding the vertical movement of the lift frame 11 upon the guide frame 10 in a manner later to be fully discussed.

The lift frame l1 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 8) comprises a pair of L-shaped frame members having laterally spaced and parallel side walls 7.1 and coplanar front walls '72. The frame members 7G are connected by a lower cross brace 73, an intermediate cross brace 74, and an upper cross brace which are coplanar with and welded at the ends to the distal edges of the front walls 72. The lower and intermediate cross braces 73 and '74 are of substantially heavier construction and provide the major structural strength for the lift frame Whereas the upper cross brace 75 is of lighter construction. A diagonal cross brace 75 is positioned in the space between the upper cr-oss brace 75 and the intermediate cross brace '74. Substantially all of the front and sides of the lift frame l1 are covered by a relatively thin, sheet metal cover 77 which prevents loads carried by said lift frame from shifting rearwardly between the frame members 7d. rThe cross braces 73-76 provide the cover 77 with reinforcement against loads shifting rearwardly.

As shown in FIG. 3, the resulting lift frame is generally U-shaped as seen from above and nests loosely over and embraces the guide frame 10'. The upper end of each frame member 76 carries a rigidly attached roller bracket 7S which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the distal edge of the associated side wall 71 and is disposed parallel with and behind the track 52 of the adjacent guide 50. This roller bracket of each frame member 70 carries a roller 79 disposed axially parallel and havingV rolling engagement with the adjacent base portion 5l.

A pair of rollers 80 and Si?. are mounted adjacent the upper edge of each side wall 71 on axes which are parallel with the front walls 72. Each roller Sti is disposed forwardly 'of the adjacent track 52 and has rolling engagement with the forwardly directed surface of said track; each roller 81 is disposed rearwardly of the adjacent track and makes rolling engagement with the rearwardly directed surface of said track. The forwardly positioned rollers 80 are preferably horizontally adjustable toward and away from the associated track by some means, such as mounting them upon rotatable, eccentric journals, to allow adjustment between the pairs of rollers.

The rollers '79-81 in co-operation with the rollers 59 and 60 provide a guided, rolling engagement between the guide frame l0 and the lift frame 11. Rollers 79 bearing against bases 51 prevent lateral movement of the lift frame relative to the guide frame at the upper end of said guide frame, and the rollers 59 in rolling engagement with the side walls 71 prevent such lateral movement adjacent the lower end of said lift frame. The upper end of the lift frame is retained against forward or rearwand movement by the rollers S0 and 81 which hold the tracks 52 captive therebetween. The rollers 60 bear against the rearwardly directed surfaces of the front walls 72 thereby preventing rearward displacement of the lower end of the lift frame. The weight of the lift frame and the forks tends to hold the front walls continuously in contact with the rollers 60 whereby a backup roller is not needed adjacent the lower end of each guide 50.

To facilitate the assembling of the guide Yand lift 'ramesand also to prevent undue forward displacement of the lift frame at itsrlower ends by some external force, retainers 32 and 83 (FIGS. 8 and 13) are provided adjacent the upper and lower ends respectively of the side walls 7l. Each retainer 82 is a generally flat guide member disposed parallel'withV the front. Walls 72 and mountedjtoV the inner surface of the associated side wall 71 whereby it projects inwardly behind the associated track 52. The central portion of each retainer 82 is disposed slightly forwardly of the rear edge of the side wall and has upper and lower angled portions 82a and 82h respectively which are angled rearwardly to such edge. Each retainer 83 similarly has a flat central portion and upper and lower angled portions 83a and 83]).

The retainers 82 and 83 facilitate the assembling of the lift and guide frames by holding the tracks 52 generally captive during longitudinal movement of the lift frame into position upon the guide frame. After complete assembly of the parts, excessive forward movement of the lift frame adjacent its lower end is prevented by these retainers which will engage the rearwardly directed surfaces of the tracks 52 if such movement occurs.

The lowermost end of the lift frame 11 supports a pair of normally forwardly, directed, substantially horizontal lift forks 90 which are adapted to be pivoted upwardly flatwise against the forward face of said lift frame when not in use (FIG. 6). Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 12, and 13,.the mounting and folding mechanism of the forks is mounted just below the lower cross brace 73 which said brace is spaced upwardly a short distance below the lowermost ends of the L-shaped frame members 70. The extreme lower ends of the front walls 72 are connected by a fork support brace 91, and fork pivot brackets 92 connect said support brace and the cross brace 73 in a vertical direction inwardly from the inner edges of the front walls. The pivot brackets 92 are positioned behind the cross and support braces and are apertured at 93 to receive the ends of a pivot shaft 94 positioned therein; CentrallyV between the fork pivot brackets 92 there is provided a retainer bracket 95 which is mounted to the cross brace 73 and the support brace 91 and is suitably apertured to allow the pivot shaft 94 to project therethrough. Cotter pins 96 are provided through the shaft on either side of and adjacent the retainer bracket 95 thereby preventing endwise movement of said shaft and displacement thereof from vthe fork pivot brackets 92.

'I'he forks 90 are rigidly mounted at their rearwardly directed ends upon a base plate 97, the ends of which `said plate rest flatwise against the front walls 72 of the lift frame when the forks are in a horizontal position. A pair of rectangular connectors 98 are rigidly secured edgewise to the rearwardly directed surface of the base plate 97 with a portion of said connectors projecting upwardly above said plate. The upper ends of said connectors are provided with normally horizontally directed slots 99 which are parallel with upper edges 102 of said connectorsr and through which the pivot shaft 94 projects. As shown in FIG. 13, the shaft 94 is normally disposed in the rearwardly directed ends of the slot 99 when the forks 90 are disposed horizontally and the base plate 97 rests against the front walls 72. A retainer bar 100 is connected across the rearwardly directed edges of the pivot brackets 92 and is normally spaced a slight distance from the rearwardlydirected edges of the connectors 98. l

Folding of the forks 90 upwardly as shown in phantom line in FIG. 13 rotates the slots 99 ninety degrees along with the connectors 98 whereby said connectors and the forks drop downwardly to diSpOSe the shaft 94in the upper ends of the now vertical slots. This downward movement disposes the upper (now rearwardly directed) edges feo 102 of the connectors in front of the retainer bar 100 y thereby locking the forks in their upwardly folded position. Lowering ofthe forks to the horizontal position is effected by raising them sufficiently todispose the shaft 94 inthe now lower ends of the slots 99 which movement raises the edges 102 above the retainer bar 100 thereby allowing downward pivotal movement of the forks to their normal working position. Y

The forks and their'associated base plate and connectors are readily removable from the lift frame by the 6 removal of the cotter pins 96 and subsequent endwise movement of the pivot shaft 94. A suitable aperture 101 (FIG. 12) is provided through one of the side walls 71 and the cover 77 in alignment with the pivot shaft to facilitate removal of said shaft.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8, the lift frame 11 in its most raised position disposes the forks 90 a short distance above the level of the truck bed 2. This amount of upward movement makes it possible to raise a load off the bed of the truck, even where the load is on castors or the like, to afford adequate clearance for swinging said load outwardly beyond the bed. This movement also allows loading to and from a load dock or other surface which is slightly above the truck bed.

As shown in FIG. 8, power means for raising and lowering the lift frame 11 comprises a hoist unit 110 mounted generally between the guides 50 and the side flanges of the U-shaped, upper support 54. A mounting plate 111 is secured between said guides and within said support to which the hoist unit is bolted or otherwise suitably secured. Said hoist unit comprises a housing containing a suitable motor, gears, and the like (not shown) for raising and lowering the lift frame by a chain 112. Said chain is connected at its lower end to the intermediate cross brace 74 by a pair of brackets 113 which mount a pin or shaft 114 to which the chain 112 is secured. The hoist unit 110 preferably houses an electric motor operable on standard 110 volt current and reversible to effect the lowering and raising motions desired. However, it will be readily understood that other power means such as a screw lift, hydraulic lift, or the like may be used if desired.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hoist unit 110 is operable through a pair of switch buttons 115 and 116 mounted on one side of the lift frame adjacent the upper end thereof, the button 115 being depressed to cause the lift frame to raise and the button 116 being depressed to cause said lift frame to lower. An operator of the lifting apparatus rides up and down with the lift frame 11 by standing on a footrest 11S adjacent the lower end of said lift frame and holding onto a handhold 117 positioned conveniently near the switch buttons.

As shown in FIG. 12, the footrest 118 is foldable upwardly iiatwise against the side of the lift frame when not in use to facilitate parking of the apparatus, Said footrest is pivoted to the lift frame upon a pin 119 carried by a pair of brackets 120 of the lift frame and projecting through slots 121 in the side walls of the generally U-shaped footrest. As illustrated, said footrest is parked in a vertical position by pivoting it upwardly and then allowing it to drop downwardly whereby the pin 119 is disposed in the upper ends of the slots 121. A lifting motion of the footrest followed by a downward pivoting allows said footrest to drop downwardly to the horizontal lor operating position with the pin 119 disposed in the lower end of the slots 121. In the lowered position, the flat end wall 122 of the footrest 118 adjacent the slots 121 bears atwise against the side of the lift frame 11 to hold said footrest rigidly in a horizontally, operator supporting position.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lifting apparatus 1 is provided with a limit switch which is tripped by an adjustable trip member 131 before the lift frame rises to a point where any of the rollers 'T9-$1 roll off of the guide frame 10. The limit switch 130 is carried on one side liange of the upper support 54 and has an operative arm 132 projecting forwardly in the direction of the lift frame. The trip 131 is mounted upon the rearwardly directed surface of the adjacent roller bracket '78 of said lift frame and is provided with an adjusting screw 133 which projects upwardly and contacts the arm 132 when the lift frame is raised a suiiicient distance. The adjusting screw 133 Vmay be raised or loweredfby turning it to determine exactly where the limit switch 130 will be tripped. Pivoting of the arm 132 by the trip actuates the limit switchl which immediately stops the motor in hoist unit 110, prevents overriding of the lift frame in an upward direction, and determines at what level the lift frame will stop. For convenience in construction, the limit switchr130 is mounted, together with a junction box 134 through which electrical current passes, to the hoist unit 110. Current enters the junction box 134 through a main line 135 and is directed therefrom to the hoist unit 110 through a coiled, resilient line 136.

Braking means is provided individually for each of the main and auxiliary pivot members 6 and 7 and is conveniently accessible for actuation by an operator standing upon the footrest 11S. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a mounting bracket 140 is secured to and projects upwardly from the upper support S and carries at its upper end a brake mounting plate 141 which is cantilevered outwardly over the brake drum 21 carried at the upper end of the pivot shaft 2lb. The brake mounting plate 141 is disposed liatwise over the brake drum and carries a pair of conventional brake shoes 142 which are disposed within the brake drum 21. Adjacent one edge of the brake drum, there is provided abrake cam 143 mounted upon a shaft 144 which is journaled in the brake mounting plate 141. Rotation of the brake cam by means of the shaft 144 separates shoes 142 in a conventional manner to bring them into braking Contact with the associated brake drum 21. Since the brake drum 21 is secured to the non-rotatable shaft 20 and the brake shoes 142 are mounted lixedly with the rotatable pivot sleeve 22, it will be obvious that application of the brake will prevent rotation or swinging movement about the main pivot member 6.

rilhe upper end of the shaft 144 is provided with a lever 145 the distal endV of which is connected to one end of a brake cable 146. The brake cable 146 is threaded through a cabie housing7 147 one end of which is secured` to the mounting bracket 14) unitarily with the brake mounting plate 141 and the other end of which is secured to a mounting bracket 15th secured to the web of the U-shaped intermediate support 55 adjacent the auxiliary pivot member 7. The mounting bracket 150 carries a brake mounting plate 151 which projects over the'brake drum 41 in the same manner in which the mounting plate 141 projects over the brake drum 21. Said latter brake mounting plate carries a pair of brake shoes 152 operable by a brake cam 153 secured to the lower end of a shaft 154. The shaft 154 is rotatably mounted in the mounting plate 151 and carries at its upper end a lever 155 having attached thereto one end of a brake cable 156. Since the brake drum 41 is secured to the shaft, 411 and the shaft 49 is lixed relative to the supports 8 and 9, and whereas the brake shoes 152 are mounted xedly with the support 55 of the guideframe, application of the brake prevents pivoting of the guide and lift frames about the auxiliary pivot member '7.

The intermediate support 55 also has mounted thereto a support plate 161D which projects rearwardly from said Vvsupport 55 and provides means for mounting a pair o brake handles 161 and 162. The brake handles 161 and 162 are pivotally'mounted between pairs of upstanding brackets 163 and 164 of the support plate by pivot pins 1135 and 166 respectively. The pins are horizontally disposed whereby the brake handles11 and 1&2 are'pivotal 15e are connected tothe handles 161 and 162 respectively at a point 1-emovedfrom the pivot pins 165 and 166 in such manner that pivoting of the handles from a generally verticai position downwardly to a generally horizontally Y position creates a pull upon the cables thereby actuating the brakes through the levers 145V and 155 to prevent ro- ,tation at the main and auxiliary pivots. Both brakes 8 would be applied when, for example,Y the apparatus is in the parked position of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, a latch bolt mechanism 170 is provided on the ilange of the lower support 56 of the guide frame 10 adjacent the operator side of the lifting apparatus. A vertically disposed mounting plate 171 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the support 56, and said latch bolt mechanism is mounted upon the outwardly directed surface thereof.

Latch bolt mechanism 170 comprises a base 172 bolted iiatwise adjacent the upper end of the mountingplate 171. The upper end of the base has an outwardly projecting arm 174 and the lower end thereof has an outwardly projecting bearing portion 175. A second bearing portion 176 is secured below and in alignment with the bearing portion adjacent the lower edge of the mounting plate 171.

A vertically disposed latch bolt 177 is slidably positioned within the aligned bearing portions 175 and 176, and a collar 178 is disposed over the latch bolt between the bearing portions and is retained against sliding movement along said latch bolt by means of a set screw 179. A coil spring 180 is telesooped over the latch bolt and disposed between the collar 178 and the lower bearing portion 176 whereby said latch bolt is normally resiliently urged in a vertically upward direction.

A toggle link 131 is pivoted to the upper end of the latch bolt 177 and another toggle link 182 is pivoted to the distal end of the outwardly projecting arm 174. Toggle links 181 and 182 are pivoted to each other, and the toggle link 182 is enlarged to :afford means for mounting a handle 18S-thereto. Whenthe handle 183 is pivoted downwardly to the position shownin FIG. 14, the toggle links 181 and 132 become aligned thereby forcingthe latch bolt 177 downwardly. The handle 183 is movable downwardly to the point where the knee of the toggle joint breaks over center in the direction of the base 172 whereby the latch bolt 177 will not retract upwardly even though urged in that direction by the spring 189. However, when the handle 132 is pivoted upwardly thus bending the Vknee of the toggle joint in the opposite direction, the ylatch bolt is readily retracted bythe spring 180. The lowerrnost end of the latch bolt 177 is adapted to enter an upwardly open socket 184 in the bed 2 of the truck. The socket 184 is positioned inwardly of the truck body adjacent the wall against which the lifting apparatus is to be parked whereby when said apparatus is in the position illustrated in FIG. 6, said latch bolt may be moved downwardly into the socket 184 as a supplemental means of preventing the apparatus from swinging loosely and uncontrollably within the truck body.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lifting apparatus 1 is provided witha bail 191B which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the Vweb of the upper support 54 by means of an angled bracket 191 welded centrally of said web. The bail 1% provides means for attaching a crane or the like to the apparatus whereby it may be lifted as a unit from Y the well25 in which the lower end of the pivot shaft 2t) is seated in use. well underV the forceof gravity alone, the apparatus is Since Vthe pivot shaft is seated inthe quickly and easily removable for transfer to another location or to another vehicle, for purposes of repair, or when itis notrneeded fora'particular hauling operation.

In operation, the ybrakesv at both the main and auxiliary pivots .are released, either sequentially or concurrently, by the handles 161and 162 whereby the guide and lift frames may be swung :and/or pivoted to any of the various positions illustrated. FGS.- 7 and 11 illustrate the sweep of therswinging motion of the apparatus about the main pivot member 6. Pivot member 6, when the apparatus is truck mountedLis preferably positioned adjacent the rear edge of the truck bed a short distance inward-ly from the right hand truck body wall (looking forwardly). It will be noted in FIG. 7 that the apparatus when thus mounted can be swung in a clockwise direction (as seen from above) whereby the auxiliary pivot member 7 and its associated parts are parked closely adjacent the wall. The supports 8 and9 are uniformly angularly bent as indicated at A to allow greater pivotal movement in a counterclockwise direction than in a clockwise direction. This aids in enabling the guide and lift frames to be pivoted to a position parallel with. the side wall. The supports 8 and 9 may, of course, be straight as shown in dotted line in FIG. 7. It is in this parked position that the latch bolt mechanism 170 is utilized as an added precaution against movement of the apparatus when it is unattended.

As seen from above in FIG. 11, the apparatus is swingable from the parked position, in a counterclockwise direction, outwardly to a position where the guide and lift frames are cantilevered laterally beyond the side wall 4. This lateral reach of the supports is substantially increased due to the previously mentioned angle A of said supports. The angling of the supports makes it possible for the apparatus to reach outwardly around the corner of the wall 4 for loading or unloading from the side of a vehicle. The vehicle may thus be easily loaded or unloaded with the present apparatus when parallel parked at a curb.

, As schematically illustrated in FIG. 18, the supports 8 and 9 may be either straight, or angled in either lateral direction. Where it is desired to have a well 25 on both sides of the truck bed, straight supports such as shown at 8a may be used to attain a symmetrical lifting apparatus having equal utility in either well. When only one well is used it is preferred that the supports be angled as at either 8b for the left-hand side of the truck or 3c for the right-hand side of the truck. Use of either the form 8b or 8c effects the advantage in lateral reach as discussed above. Y

It will be understood that the controls represented by the buttons 11S and 116, the handheld 117, and the footrest 118 would be placed on that side of the apparatus which is most convenient for the operator depending upon which side of the truck the apparatus is mounted on. Where the apparatus is alternately used on different sides of the truck, the elements mentioned may be made portable whereby they can be moved from one side to the other or they may be provided in duplicate on both sides of the apparatus with two sets of switches 115 and 116 connected in parallel with the hoist motor circuit. The pivoting movement of the guide and lift frames at the auxiliary pivot member 7 is limited at any point in the swinging motion of the apparatus only by the supports 8 and 9. In the example of curbside loading or unloading while parallel parked, the guide and lift frames may be positioned parallel with the side wall 4 with the forks directed laterally at right angles to the center line of the truck.

When the apparatus has been placed in the optimum angular position for receiving or Vdischarging a load, the brakes at the main and auxiliary pivots are applied by means of the handles 161 and 162. This prevents further swinging or pivoting movement of the apparatus during .the lowering or raising thereof such as might occur, for

example, where the truck is parked on uneven ground and the bed 2 is consequently tilted. A tilted bed would cause the lifting apparatus to tend to swing about its pivots toward the lowest point of the tilt, :and this is effectively prevented by the brakes. Y

As hereinbefore described, an operator standing upon the footrest 1 18l then moves the lift frame 11 upwardly by means of switch button 115 or downwardly by means of switch button 116. If a load is being picked up at curbside, the operator lowers the lift `frame to the ground level, places the load on the forks, and Vthen raises the lift frame from the full line to the dotted line position; j

as illustrated inv FlG. 4. main pivot member 6, the load may be-easily Vand quickly swung in a clockwise direction into the truck body, and, by releasing the brake at kthe auxiliary pivot member 7,

By releasing the brake at the the operator may then pivot the load inside the truck. The auxiliary pivot member 7 affords substantially 180 of pivoting movement to the lift forks whereby when the apparatus is swung into the truck body, the load may be direct-ed forwardly or at a convenient angle to facilitate dispositing the load with a minimum of effort.

The embodiment of FIGS. 15-17 shows -a form of the load lifting apparatus of this invention adapted particularly for raising a load from =a surface upon which the apparatus is mounted to a loading surf-ace which is substantially above the level of the first mentioned mounting surface. The second embodiment is in all respects substantially the same structure as illustrated in the first ernbodiment with the exception of the guide lframe and lift -fr-ame construction and certain parts associated therewith.

As shown in FIG. 19, -guide and lift frames of the second embodiment are secured to the vauxiliary pivot member 7 of the mount and are swingable in an arc about the Imain pivot member 6 adjacent the outer ends of the supports 3 and 9. The main pivot member 6 is mounted in a well 2S in the same manner .as the `first embodiment, said well being illustrated `as mounted in the bed 2 of a truck or -like Vehicle. As hereinbefore described, the upper end of said auxiliary pivot member is -journaled in the upper pillow block 43 mounted to the U-shaped, intermediate support 5S, and the lower end of said auxiliary pivot mem-ber is journaled in the lower pillow block 44 mounted upon the lower U-s-ha-ped support 56.

The second embodiment of the invention has a guide frame 20@ which comprises a pair of parallel, laterally spaced guides A2111 having heavy, llat base portions 202 and oppositely directed, bladelike tracks 293 projecting laterally from the outer sides of said base portions. lThe tracks are disposed at right angles to the base portions and extend vertically throughout the length of the guides 201. Said guides are connected at their upper end portions by a U-shaped upper support 204 which projects horizontally` rearwardly generally above the auxiliary pivot member 7. Said `guides are also connected by the intermediate support 55 and the lower support 56.

The lift frame of the second embodiment is shown generally at .22@ and comprises a pair of L-shaped frame members `221 having laterally spaced and parallel side walls 222 and coplanar from walls 223. The frame members 221 are connected by cross brace means 224 which is coplanar with and welded at the ends to the distal edges of the front walls 223.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the resulting lift frame is generally U-shaped in horizontal section and nests loosely over and embraces the guide frame 209. The vertical length of the 4lift fra-me :220 is only a fraction of the yvertical length of the guide frame 200 and is illustrated in its lowered position `adjacent the lower end of said guide frame. The upper end of each frame member 221 carries a rigidly attached r-oller bracket 2125 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the distal edge of the associated side wall 222 and is disposed parallel with and behind the track 263 of the adjacent guide 201. This roller bracket of each frame member `221 carries a roller 226 disposed axially parallel and having rolling engagement with the adjacent base portion 202. V

A pair of rollers 228 and 229 are mounted .adjacent the upper edge of each side wall 222 on axes which are parallel with the front walls 223.` Each roller 228 is disposed forwardly of the-adjacent track 203 `and has rolling engagement with the forwardly directed surface of said track; each roller 229 is disposed rearwardly of the adjacent track and'rnakes rolling engagement with the rearwardly directed surface of said track. The lower endportion of each side wall 222 is similarly provided with a roller 230 rolling against the forwardly directed surface ofthe adjacent track 293( and a roller 231 having rollin-g engagement with the rearwardly directed surface ofsaid track. Y

The rollers 228-231 in cooperation with the rollers 226 provide a guided, rolling'engagement between the guide ll frame 20@ and the lift frame 220. Rollers 226 bearing against the bases 2tl2 prevent lateral movement of the lift frame relative to the guide frame, and the rollers 22S-23d provide a smooth rolling engagement against the associated tracks 203.

The lower end portion of the lift frame 220 has a pair of lift forks 233 which are identical with and are mounted to said lift frame in the same manner as the Iforks 99 of the lift frame 11. A lifting bail 234 is secured to the web of the upper support 204 by a bracket 235 welded or otherwise suitably secured to said bail and said support. It will be understood that a latch bolt mechanism of the type shown at i170 in the rst embodiment may be provided at the l-ower support S6 of FIG. 15.

As shown in FIGS. l andf16, power means for raising land .lowering the lift 4frame 2120 comprises an electric hoist unit 240 mounted generally between the guides 291 and the side flanges of the U-shaped, upper support 2%. A pair .of mounting plates 241 are secured between the side anges of lthe upper support to which the hoist unit 249 is mounted in any suitable manner. As in the first embodiment lof'the invention, said hoist unit comprises a housing containing a suitable motor, gears, and the like (not shown) for raising and lowering the lift frame by a chain 242. The chain y242 passes upwardly from the hoist unit 240 over a sprocket 243 carried by a shaft 254.

Said shaft is journaled at the ends thereof in a pair of bearin-gs 245 which are respectively mounted upon the uppermost ends of the guides 201. The chain 242 passes downwardly from the sprocket 2153 and is connected at its lowermost end to bracket 246 mounted centrally upon the rearwardly directed sur-face yof the cross brace means 224.

The hoist 240 is preferably of the electrical type as shown and described in the first embodiment of the invention, and conventional electrical switch control means .comprising up and down buttons may be provided in any suitable manner. For example, a portable control unit 246 may be provided, said unit having up and down buttons 247 and 24S respectively and being connected to the hoistunit 240 by a conductor 250 of suicient length and iiexibility as to allow it yto be carried by an operator riding with a load upon the forks 233 or standing at different positions along side the apparatus. If the controls are mounted directly upon the apparatus, their particular position or location would be determined by the particular circumstances of the use to which the apparatus was to -be put.

4One flange of the upper support 2M carries a junction box 250 of the type shown in the first embodiment on top of which is mounted a limit switch 251 having a pivotable switch arm 25.2. 'The roller bracket 225 is adjacent the same side of the lifting apparatus and carries a trip 253 which moves upwardly with the lift frame 22?. The distal end of the switch arm 252 is disposed in the path of the trip 253 whereby lwhen said Ilift yframe is raised to the broken line position of F-G. l5, said `trip 253 pivots the arm 252 thereby actuating the switch .25h and cutting oi the power to the electric hoist 24). This upper limit switch arrangement of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in the first embodiment, and it will be understood that the trip 253 may be made adjustableV in thesame manner as the trip 231 of the iirst embodiment if so desired.` j The operation of the apparatus in the second embodiment of the invention is similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment, but the loading problem solved by the second embodiment is different from that described in connection-with said iirst embodiment, The apparatus lof FIG. may be carried 'on'V a truck type vehicle undercircumstances Whereloading and unloading from the Vehicle are consistently done relative to a Vsurface which is substantially above instead of below the bed of the vehicle. VWhen the second embodiment of the invention is thus. truck mounted, it has all of the-features l?. ing motions of the Yapparatus are concerned. The guide and lift frames 200 and 220 are pivotable substantially 180 upon the pivot member 7, and their swinging movement about the main pivot 6 is limitedV only by the presence of an adjacent wall or similar obstruction.

The apparatus of the second embodiment is also particularly adapted for circumstances where it is desirable to mount a swingable and pivotable lifting apparatus to a iixed base level from which loads are delivered upwardly as, for example, into a truck, freight car, or the like. Under these circumstances, the advantages set forth in connection with the swinging and pivoting movements of the apparatus are available at the ground level rather than in the vehicle itself. The apparatus can be mounted to swing from inside a building to the outside thereof and, by angling the supports as hereinbefore described, be made to reach around a wall or other obstacle. By means of the brakes, the apparatus can be positioned to lift a load anywhere within a wide area, and the apparatus can be further pivoted or swung after the load is raised and after the forks are in the dotted line position of FIG. 15 to move a load over and lower it onto a subtantially elevated surface.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the operator has at his command, with either embodiment, a lifting apparatus which is highly mobile and versatile for loading and unloading operations from or to a carrier bed, particularly under conditions wherein a truck or the like cannot be conveniently backed into a loading area. The power means for raising and lowering the lift frame is here exemplified by the conventional electrical hoist, current for which would usually be available at any loading or unloading station or which may be provided by means mounted upon the vehicle itself. However, it will be read-ily understood that other types of power means may be used if so desired. As hereinbefore described, the particular lift forks illustrated are quickly and easily removable from the lift frame, and they may be replaced with other types of load receiving mechanism.

It will be understood that many changes in the details of the invention as herein illustrated and described may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A load lifting apparatus comprising a lift means having a fixed frame and a vertically movable frame movable on said fixed frame; said movable frame reciprocable between a position substantially level with said fixed frame and a position below the level of said lixed frame; power means mounted on one of said frames for reciproeating said movable frame; a mount for mounting said lift means comprising a main pivot member and a parallel, laterally spaced auxiliary pivot member rigidly connected to each other by cantilever support means; said fixed member of said lift means mounted to said auxiliary pivot member and pivotal relative toV said mount; said'main pivot member mounted upon an elevated support surface adjacent an edge of the surface in use of the apparatus in suchmanner that said lift means is swingable outwardly about said main pivot member beyond the surface wl ereby said movable member is movable downwardly below the surface; means on said movable frame for engaging and supporting'a load; said cantilever support means being'laterally offset in oneV direction of swinging movement in such manner as to allow said lift means to be swung further in that one di Vection relative to said mount than inthe opposite direction.

2. A load liftingapparatus as set forth in claim l inj cluding up and down control switches mounted upon said movable frame and controlling the vertical movement of Vsaid movable/frame; and means provided on'said movi trol switches.

V3. A load lifting apparatus ncomprising a lixed frame and a verticallymovable frame on said xedframe; said movable frame reciprocable between a position substantially level with said fixed frame and a position below the level of said ixed frame; power means mounted upon said fixed frame for moving said movable frame; a mount comprising a main pivot member and a parallel, laterally spaced auxiliary pivot member connected by cantilever support means; said fixed frame mounted to said auxiliary pivot member; said main pivot member having a downwardly directed shaft; said mount swingable about said shaft; a well member adapted to be mounted in the floor of a trucklike vehicle adjacent the loading and unloading opening thereof; said shaft slidably disposed and rotatively retained within said well in use of the apparatus whereby said frames are swingable outwardly beyond the truck oor about said main pivot member to allow movement of said movable frame downwardly to a ground level; means on said movable frame for engaging and supporting a load; said apparatus being particularly adapted for mounting adjacent a vertical wall of a trucklike vehicle by having said cantilever support means laterally oiset in one direction of swinging movement in such manner as to all-ow greater swinging movement of said frames in that one direction; said lateral offset so directed as to dispose said auxiliary pivot member laterally beyond the wall of the vehicle when said frames are swung outwardly beyond the truck lioor.

4. A load lifting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the recited frames are pivotal in said one direction to such extent that whensaid mount is swung inwardly to a position adjacent the vehicle wall, said frames are pivotal to a Vposition parallel with said wall for parking of said apparatus.

5. A load lifting apparatus comprising a lift means having a iixed frame and a vertically movable frame movable on said fixed frame; said Vmovable frame reciprocable between a position substantially level with said xed frame and a position below the level of said fixed frame; power means mounted on one of said frames for reciprocating said movable frame; a mount for mounting said lift means comprising a main pivot member and a parallel, laterally spaced, auxiliary pivot member rigidly connected to each other by cantilever support means; said fixed member of said lift means mounted to said auxiliary pivot member ,and pivotal relative to said mount; Vsaid main pivot member adapted to be mounted vertically upon the bed of a trucklike vehicle adjacent the loading and unloading end of said vehicle and adjacent a side wall of said vehicle whereby said lift means is swingable outwardly about said main pivot member beyond the bed; said cantilever support means being laterally offset horizontally in one direction of swinging movement in such manner as to be able to dispose said auxiliary pivot member laterally beyond the wall of the vehicle when said frames are swung outwardly beyond the truck bed; the combined swinging and pivoting movements of said mount and said lift means being such that said lift means is movable horizontally atleast from a position within the vehicle facing away from the loading and unloading end thereof outwardly beyond the truck bed and laterally of the side wall to a position facing away from the plane of said side Wall.

6. A load lifting apparatus comprising a lift means having an elongated, iixed frame and a vertically movable, relatively shorter frame movable on said xed frame; said movable frame reciprocable between a position adjacent the lower end of said ixed frame and a position adjacent the upper end of said fixed frame; power means mounted on one of said frames for reciprocating said movable frame; a mount for mounting said lift means comprising a main pivot member and a parallel, laterally spaced auxiliary pivot member rigidly connected to each other by cantilever support means; said iixed member of said liftvmeans mounted to said auxiliary pivot member and pivotal relative to said mount; said main pivot member mountedV upon a supporting surface in use of the apparatus in such manner that said lift means is swingable in an arc about said main pivot member; means on said movable frame for engaging and supporting a load; said cantilever support means being laterally offset in one direction of swinging movement in such manner as to allow said lift means Vto be swung further in that one direction relative to said mount than in the opposite direction.

References Cited b y the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,029 l/ 19 Sasgen 212-61 2,461,401 2/ 49 Trombley 214-75 2,753,066 7/56 Arnot 214-671 2,772,793 12/ 56 Brusewitz 214-80 XR 2,875,852 3/59 Morrell 187-9 2,895,567 7/59 Hall 187-9 2,930,499 3/60 Landen 214-75 3,023,919 3/62 Hobsen 214-620 f Y HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

3. A LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIXED FRAME AND A VERTICALLY MOVABLE FRAME ON SAID FIXED FRAME; SAID MOVABLE FRAME RECIPROCABLE BETWEEN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY LEVEL WITH SAID FIXED FRAME AND A POSITION BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID FIXED FRAME; POWER MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FIXED FRAME FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE FRAME; A MOUNT COMPRISING A MAIN PIVOT MEMBER AND A PARALLEL, LATERALLY SPACED AUXILIARY PIVOT MEMBER CONNECTED BY CANTILEVER SUPPORT MEANS; SAID FIXED FRAME MOUNTED TO SAID AUXILIARY PIVOT MEMBER; SAID MAIN PIVOT MEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED SHAFT; SAID MOUNT SWINGABLE ABOUT SAID SHAFT; A WALL MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN THE FLOOR FO A TRUCKLIKE VEHICLE ADJACENT THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OPENING THEREOF; SAID SHAFT SLIDABLY DISPOSED AND ROTATAIVELY RETAINING WITHIN SAID WELL IN USE OF THE APPARATUS WHEREBY SAID FRAMES ARE SWINGABLE OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE TRUCK FLOOR ABOUT SAID MAIN PIVOT MEMBER TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE FRAME DOWNWARDLY TO A GROUND LEVEL; MEANS ON SAID MOVABLE FRAME FOR ENGAGING 